Last year I was attempting to climb Martyr Road in some truly horrible conditions. This is one of Australia’s steepest and toughest residential streets. Much of this climb is around 30% in gradient, and it felt like there was concrete weighing down my shoes. After just 50 metres of trying to climb this monster my lungs were on fire. I was screaming in pain and every fibre of my body was telling me to get off and walk. Failure was not an option and in desperation I was forced to deliver the mail and Going postal.

Image taken by Ewan Hilsdon; Martyr Road

Delivering the mail is a term relating to a cyclist who come across a hill so steep that they need to

“zig-zag from one side of a road or path to the other in order to attempt to reduce the gradient”

Delivering the mail really sucks. Maybe its the speed you’re going at. Or should I say lack of. When you come to changing directions. You get that horrible feeling that you won’t be able to turn the wheel and drop the bike. It’s hard enough just to climb. Avoiding potholes, debris or turning the bike is a bitch to do. It’s something I never want to do again. Its so much easier climbing in a straight line. Anything else is just a waste of energy. Why?

It increases the distance you have to climb which invariably;

Takes you longer to get to the peak of the climb which will;

Friggin hurt (welcome to the pain cave). And there’s a possibility that;

You may have to get off to walk. Which is truly embarrassing,but worse still;

You fall over (then the ill fated question; is the bike ok?)

Please don’t try this at home. This was a trained professional

Sure there may be times when its necessary. But trust me. You don’t want to be Going postal